The Trouble with Christmas Read Free Page A

the way she was. The limo pulled into the private airplane section of the airport and up to the Putnams’ white helicopter, sporting the orange script Putnam P on the side. Seeing the copter, Lily did feel a small burst of excitement.
    “See, you’re smiling, Lils,” Avery said as they climb out onto the tarmac. Mrs. Putnam emerged from another car and the three women walked to the helicopter. “My dad is coming over this afternoon. It’s a girls’ flight now.”
    “Hello, Avery. Lily.” Evalyn kissed both girls on the cheek. She smoothed her sleek gray cashmere dress down her slim body. “Let’s get going, shall we?”
    And at her command, everyone strapped in, and the helicopter took flight. As they neared the island, Lily felt her shoulders begin to relax. She had been visiting Indigo Island with the Putnams for years, but she never realized until today just how much the island calmed her. She took a deep breath and looked over at Avery, who was smiling out the window.
    Lily remembered the December of her freshman year in high school when her dad had packed his bags and said goodbye, telling her he’d found his soul mate and was moving to Chicago to be with her. “But what about me and mom?” Lily had asked, too stunned to be able to comprehend that he really intended to leave them forever.
    “I’ll always love you, Lily, but I need to live a genuine life,” her dad had said, patting her on the head like a dog. And then he’d left. Lily had barely seen him since. Her mom had fallen apart, unable to pull herself out of the alcoholism his sudden exit triggered after their twenty-two year marriage.
    And now more than fifteen Decembers later, another man has abruptly left, breaking his promise to her. She was cursed. A tear worked its way down her cheek before she could stop it.
    “Hey, no more tears. We’re about to land at the most magical island of healing ever,” Avery said patting Lily’s hand.
    Lily smiled.
    “You get your own room now! I have to share with Mark,” Avery joked as they hurried to the waiting golf cart. Lily smiled at the things the Putnams took for granted. The wealth, the happiness, the golf carts that matched their helicopters, and their private jets. But even as much as Avery took all the symbols of her wealth for granted, she was a true and wonderful friend. The best friend Lily could hope for.
    Evalyn Putnam walked ahead of the younger women, up the steps to the front door of the Putnam Plantation, a replica of an antebellum Southern plantation that formerly occupied just this spot on Indigo Island. Every time Lily visited, she imagined what it must have been like here before air conditioning and running water, before all the comforts she took for granted. As Evalyn reached the wrap-around porch, she smiled and said, “It’s so good to be here, isn’t it? Take a deep breath, girls. Ahhh.”
    Lily smiled, trying to shake off her negative thoughts so she’d be a better guest. Avery rushed past her mom up the stairs to the wide front porch. A huge wreath made from large branches of local pine trees decorated the front door. Garland had been wrapped around the banister of the long porch. White twinkle lights have been threaded through the branches, held in place by cheerful red ribbon. The front porch lights were decorated with the same bold red ribbons, standing out against the white wood of the home. A fresh evergreen wreath adorned every window, held in place by a thick red velvet ribbon. Everything was, as always, perfect.
    “Well, do you girls feel the chill in the air?” Evalyn asked as her housekeeper pulled open the front door. “Hope you have a fire going, Millie.”
    “Yes, in the library and in the family room, Ms. Putnam. Welcome home,” Millie said, stepping out of the way.
    “Oh, Mom, who decorated the tree?” Avery asked in a voice that made her sound as if she were a small child.
    “Millie handled it, since I wasn’t sure who would be here when and I